[Midman]

I have stock pipes on my Sportster. I've been told that cutting out my baffles will reduce compression. I've been wrong in the past on a thing or two..ha ha. But I think these people at the harley shop are full of it. It seems to me that it would be the same as running straight pipes. Except for the stock cross over pipe. Any knowledgable facts out there?

[VYBR8R]

Cutting out the baffles has nothing to do with your compression! Cutting out the baffles reduces the back pressure in the exhaust system which will effect how the bike runs. Straight pipes are not an improvement on the street and actually only work well at wide open throttle. All you will be doing is making a lot of noise and not actually improve your performance. This practice will also not endure you with your neighbors.

[hotroadking]

True you won't do any good, the tests I've seen online show no gain sometimes a loss in power. It will make it louder, but you want to keep some backpressure.

I would suggest you pull the mufflers and put on a set of Khrome Werks or cycle shack slip ons, a good air filter (Ness or SE) and adjust the carb for the new parts.

This is your best bet for the buck on hp and tq gained.

[Midman]

Thanks for the input. I wasn't worried about hp. I've already cut out the baffles. Can't tell any difference on performance. Noise yes, of course. I like that part. I drive in some traffic and need it. And don't worry, I don't rap it in neighborhood. As I do leave for work at 5:15 am. Neighbors haven't complained yet. I was wondering how much back pressure the crossover pipe creates. Is it enough? I will check into Krome Werks and cycle shack slip ons. Thanks again

[hotroadking]

Good thing about keeping stock mufflers is if you get noise ordinances in your area on bikes which are popping up everywhere you can slip them back on and be quiet then go back to the performance ones after any tests.

[Killer-B]

Hey Midman. Noise is fine-and-dandy; but for me, a pipe has to be about performance, and sir, you will never get ANY real street performance out of an straight-pipe. Thanks for the relief. I feel much better now.